Well, there was no contest about yesterday’s post breaking a record… I had 343 hits yesterday! I don’t know what it was. Maybe my title? “I give you my Heart” …maybe you all thought it was going to be a mushy gushy post about something personal… and to think it turned out to be about heart fabrics. If you missed yesterday’s post, you can see it HERE. I hope you weren’t disappointed.
I hope you won’t be disappointed about today’s post either…it’s about buttons…heart buttons! It’s no secret I love buttons and I buy them as often as I can. I’ll admit it, I might be a buttonoholic! :o) But it’s a good thing. Whenever you need a button for something…you-probably-already-have-it-in-your-stash!
I went back to my older archives again and found some cute ways to use buttons instead of just for buttonholes. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I made a buttonhole for a button. Most of my buttons are for embellishing, so see, I do need lots of buttons, because “embellishing” looks best when a button is involved…especially a heart one!! :o)
[If you click on any of the pictures, they will enlarge.]
Starting with my littlest sweetie, here is 7 1/2″ Riley, by Helen Kish showing you her fun pastel sundress…
Bitty Bethany has her collar decorated with 2 red heart buttons…
One of my very favorite Valentine dresses, was this one shown on 14″ Wren Pistachio, by Helen Kish.
Bitty Bethany wore the first “Peach of a Valentine” dress I ever made…
Bitty Bethany’s dress in pink and black called for lots of pretty pink heart buttons…
If it worked for Bitty Bethany, why wouldn’t it work for Patsy?
As you can see, Bitty Bethany wound up with LOTS of dresses embellished with heart buttons. In this last one, she wears a purple and black floral print with sweet buttons sewn across the front. This was just a simple dress, but I just loved it on her.
Well, I hope this gave you some ideas for using heart buttons…thanks for looking!
I didn’t want you to think I had quit sewing. I’ve just had a busy weekend and didn’t get much time in my sewing room. The Dianna Effner Little Darlings dress will be up next. I’m toying around with the idea of smocking the fabric for their dress. I’ve realized there is no time for any more Valentine dresses and it makes me so sad as I love to sew them. But I’ll just turn my thoughts toward Spring and Easter dresses, okay?
Anyone object?
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow! I couldn’t pick one that I liked the best. I think that you did this subject just for me. All the kish girls. Doesn’t hurt that I am a button hoarder. I am going to go thru my dresses and add some buttons. You are sure a great artist.
HI Sylvia,
Oh dear, another button hoarder… look out Joann Fabrics! Sometimes I have to make myself stay away so I don’t buy anything…or give my coupons to Rebecca so she uses them instead of me!
I’m glad to give you some ideas for your Kish’s dresses…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Boy – Wren’s dress hits it for me. 🙂 They are *all* nice, but… that bodice embellishment is perfect. 🙂
Hi Mary,
Well, if I still had Wren I’d tell her how much you liked her dress. Her dress was a fun one to decorate…and that vintage hankie was one of my favorites…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Careful… my Wren will say she want to come live with YOU because you can sew for her . LOL!! My Kish girls have been ‘stored’ way too long. :-/
They are all so adorable but I did love the Wren dress so much. It was WOW.
Thank you Donna,
Oh my, another favorite for Wren’s dress. I’ll have to make something similar again I guess…
I appreciate your kind words about it…
Blessings, Jeanne
I find it a wonderful honor to be able to see your work. Isn’t it great that we can be creative with fabrics, buttons, ribbons, etc.? It just makes my day to see your beautiful work.
Take care.
Thank you Becky,
What sweet things you’ve said about my sewing and my blog. I’m glad you enjoy both of them…Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Both Riley and BB are very cute Kish models, however, Wren is a beauty. Love her dress. At 14″ wonder if she can share with the Little Darlings? Maybe not same body type though. Maybe you will find another some day.
HI Joy,
I did a few dresses where the Little Darlings and Wren shared the same dress. Wren’s waist was longer and she sort of had this slightly pot belly, so sometimes the dresses had to be just above the waist in order to work. But the bodice area was a pretty close match.
I have actually found myself looking on Ebay at them… but I need to stay away… just too many dolls already that stand on my shelf neglected. I surely don’t need another one.
Thanks so much Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I love all of the dresses with the heart buttons, but I think my favorite is Wen’s dress.
Hi Regina,
Well, it’s official now… Wren’s dress seems to be the favorite… I hope her “new mommy” is making her pretty things these days… She was a wonderful model while she was at my house.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I have to agree with nearly everyone else — all the dresses are wonderful but Wren’s is special even among special dresses.
Congratulations on your Blue Ribbon Valentine’s dress — that auction had an interesting last few minutes — I was outbid before I had a chance to press the button!
HI Marilyn,
Thanks for liking Wren’s dress. It was special when I made it. I think the vintage hankie was called Love Letters in the auction I won it from. I always liked that name.
Yes, Addy’s auction was pretty exciting… much more than the Super Bowl halftime! Sorry you missed out on it, but there’ll be more. I know you know that.
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
What cute buttons on such beautiful dresses. I think I have always liked buttons even though I don’t sew. I have an old red tulip button in my jewelry box. It came from something along time ago – probably one my mother had for some reason. Buttons can really add to the style of an outfit. I love nautical buttons.
Congratulations on the Blue Ribbon Valentine’s dress. It was a lovely outfit.
Have a great day!
HI Paula,
I don’t have to tell you how much I love buttons. They can make or break the look of a dress. I always have my eyes peeled for buttons… no matter what I’m looking at. It’s neat that you have an old button that you are saving but you don’t know what it was from. It’s just special because it’s always been special! How sweet!
Thanks for the congrats on Addy’s dress. It was a fun one at the end…
Blessings, Jeanne
Your posts are just wonderful. A Valentine to all of us every day! I second everything written about your creativity. I hope you will save some of the very special dolls with granddaughters in mind instead of selling them. I know it is essential to consider the supply and demand of the business end but someday . . . Congrats on the Addy dress!
You’ve once again contributed to the delinquency (but joy) of a pretty recently afflicted adult doll collector. After seeing Lian looking in the mirror, I did a search on eBay for “American Girl mirror” and turned up a Carl Forslund “Quaint American” wall-hanging chest with a mirror for only $35. I snapped it right up and was able to pick it up yesterday from the seller who is located just down the road. It has match holders on both sides of the mirror and four drawers with Delft handles for storing accessories. I’ll send you a picture of it. Thanks to everyone for all of the info I pick up on your Blog.
HI Susette,
Thanks for the congrats on Addy’s dress…and I can’t wait to see what you found for your girls as a prop.
I’m sorry…well not really… that I’ve caused you to start loving on dolls again! Isn’t it fun, though?
Blessings, Jeanne
I love them all, I wondered why I always save my buttons, I have tons!!! thanks!
HI Robin,
You can never have too many buttons…there’s always something you can do with them… and not all about sewing, either… keep them… :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations on your record breaking day!!
I thought my favorite was original ….the heart/hankie combo.. until I read that she was everyone else’s favorite as well! We all have such good taste 🙂
I want to drop everything and run to my buttons and pull out every heart button I have and bury myself in my sewing room..but it is also the doll repair room and there are SO many babies that are needy they must come first!
Hope this post is a winner as well…Have a great day!
HI Kathie,
Well, it seems that Wren really took first place with her Valentine dress. Everyone liked it!
Buttons are fun, aren’t they?
Kathie, why don’t the next time you make a comment, put your doll repair room website or email address in your comment, so anyone who needs help with a doll can contact you.
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my goodness, all those adorable dresses with the heart buttons! Jeanne, you outdo yourself every time! I love Wren’s dress too, especially with the darling hankie apron! Those dresses just make me remember all the hankies I used to get when little, in birthday cards, birthday gifts, etc. Those were the days!
I love the way you make a group of buttons look like a flower too! Where did you get all these button ideas? Since those dolls are tiny, are those buttons for baby clothes? If so, ouch, I absolutely hate to sew on buttons! They never turn out neat like yours do!
You should consider those precious outfits your Valentine to us, your readers!
HI Linda,
I’m going to go with George tomorrow to an antique shop. He’s redoing some electrical work for the lady and he might or might not need my help… but mostly I’ll get to shop! I actually have a $200 gift certificate to her store from when we watched her little dog. I’m excited, and maybe I’ll even find a few new hankies!!
I thought everyone who had buttons just did “things” with them. I certainly am not the “queen” of button ideas, but they just pop in my head of how they’d work best, and then I just sew them on. Sorry you don’t like to sew them on. I find my buttons all over, craft places, fabric stores, yard sales, thrift stores, old clothing, you name it.. if there are pretty buttons involved, I’ll buy them. :o)
Well, then, Happy Valentine’s Day to you first Linda!
Blessings, Jeanne
No objections from me! I guess we all love buttons, but you win the award for creative ways to use them. All the dresses are pretty, but the ones made from the red and white checked fabric are my favorites.
Thank you Carolyn,
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing my “heart button” dresses for my girls. As I look back over them, I’m wondering just how many buttons I’ve sewn on? That’s got to be a big number…and sewn on snaps has got to be even higher!
Thanks so much for your compliments on my doll dresses, Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Maybe my title? “ I give you my Heart” …maybe you all thought it was going to be a mushy gushy post about something personal… and to think it turned out to be about heart fabrics. Where is this information?